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1 News Roundup: Chinese Social Credit Systemhttps://www.wikitribune.com/article/93612/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=China&pk_campaign=RSS&pk_kwd=China&pk_source=RSS&pk_medium=RSS&pk_content=China
https://www.wikitribune.com/article/93612/?talkThu, 22 Nov 2018 20:34:33 +0000https://www.wikitribune.com/?post_type=stories&p=93612In 2014, China released a roadmap indicating they would release new “social credit” system which allows the government to closely monitor and judge each of its 1.3 billion citizens based on their behaviour and activity. In Nov. 2018, the Beijing municipal government released its plan to assign “personal trustworthiness points” by 2021, sparking a new round of media attention.

This is a quick roundup of news stories about the new social credit system.

]]>https://www.wikitribune.com/article/93612/feed/4The fight over fish is real, and it’s only going to get worsehttps://www.wikitribune.com/article/90363/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=Africa&pk_campaign=RSS&pk_kwd=Africa&pk_source=RSS&pk_medium=RSS&pk_content=Africa
https://www.wikitribune.com/article/90363/?talkTue, 02 Oct 2018 14:37:35 +0000https://www.wikitribune.com/?p=90363The critical marine stocks that humans depend on for food could become even more endangered due to climate change, overexploitation, and poor enforcement of existing regulations, raising fears among some experts that fish and other forms of sea life are already becoming another source of geopolitical competition. Examples abound. Only last month, a fleet of […]]]>

The critical marine stocks that humans depend on for food could become even more endangered due to climate change, overexploitation, and poor enforcement of existing regulations, raising fears among some experts that fish and other forms of sea life are already becoming another source of geopolitical competition.

Examples abound. Only last month, a fleet of French fishing vessels chased five British boats from a scallop-rich area (CNN) off the coast of Normandy in an incident dubbed the ‘scallop wars’ by English-language news media. The problem? The French fishermen, whose fishing season starts in October, were furious their British counterparts, who are not limited by law, started trawling for mollusks a month earlier.

“We have quotas, we have hours and they have nothing, no quotas, seven days out of seven they fill their boats. They come, they dredge and they fill their vessel and they go home. They work a month earlier than us and they leave us the crumbs,” said French fisherman Anthony Quesnel.

While it’s unlikely nations would go to war over fish, some experts say these examples highlight the fierce competition countries are engaged in over access to shifting populations of fish and other forms of sea life that are under severe strain due to overexploitation, climate change, and an ever-growing human population.

“Marine species, not just scallops but a lot of the key species that we depend on, like cod, for instance, or sea bass, have been increasingly under strain due to climate change, warming seas, more acidic oceans,” said Heather Alberro, an assistant lecturer at Nottingham Trent University in the UK and an expert on how humans are affecting the environment.

“The scallop wars are just I think the beginning of things to come that are far worse,” she told WikiTribune.

Fish facts

Demand for fish has been growing steadily for decades, and will keep doing so. The global population is expected to rise from just under 8 billion people today to almost 10 billion by 2050.

Meanwhile, average fish consumption per capita has more than doubled since the early 1960s, from 9 kilograms in 1961 to 20.2 kilograms in 2015, according to the latest annual report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN).

In other words, the annual increase in fish consumption has been double that of population growth, and also exceeded that of meat from all terrestrial animals combined, according to the FAO.

Over the past few decades, most of this growth has been supplied by the development of aquaculture; farmed fish production is expected to overtake wild fish capture this year. Even so, aquafarming requires enormous amounts of fish meal – sprats, juvenile herring and anchovies, among others – which wild fish also rely on.

“If you’re removing fish from the wild to feed fish in a farm scenario, then you’re going to have an impact on the wild population because you’re removing a food source, aren’t you?” said Danial Hatherley-Hurford, Fisheries Countryside Environment Lecturer at Plumpton College, while showing students through Billingsgate Fish Market in east London on a cloudy Friday morning.

Although wild fish capture volumes have remained relatively steady since the late 1980s, overfishing remains a persistent and growing problem. According to the FAO, “it seems unlikely that the world’s fisheries can rebuild the 33.1 percent of stocks that are currently overfished in the very near future, because rebuilding requires time, usually two to three times the species’ life span.”

Still, Hatherley-Hurford told WikiTribune he sees some cause for optimism. “From a consumer perspective, we need to put more pressure on sustainable fish sources. We need to recognise what we’re buying. And I think that that has happened. There has been a shift that way.”

Cause for concern

Still, competition on the high seas for fish is fierce, and sometimes violent. For example, Indonesia blew up 23 Vietnamese and Malaysian fishing vessels in early 2016 it said were trespassing in territorial waters (The Wall StreetJournal, may be behind paywall). Earlier this year, Argentina issued an international capture order for five Chinese fishing boats it said were fishing illegally in its territorial waters after the Argentinean coast guard fired warning shots.

“It used to be [that] the flag followed trade, helping you acquire colonies; now, the [Chinese] flag follows fishing, helping you acquire indisputable sovereignty,” James Holmes, a professor of strategy at the U.S. Naval War College, told Foreign Policy. “In both cases, private interests act as the vanguard, justifying the state’s reaching for the gun.”

Additionally, experts like Alberro worry that other human-related activities like climate change are changing marine ecosystems in ways that we cannot fully track, much less understand.

“The take-home message is that just when we think we’ve figured something out, [that] we’ve figured out where a particular species is going to be, [where it] is going to migrate, we just keep hitting against uncertainty around what exactly is happening.”

In practice, Alberro said this might mean that the rates of change of marine ecosystems outpace existing political and legal boundaries, and might exacerbate disregard for rules-based fishing arrangements.

“We’ve overfished these seas for so long now”

“We’ve overfished these seas for so long now,” Scott Unwin, 44, owner of Bobby’s Fish Ltd, told WikiTribune. “We’re getting everything, and they’re literally eating everything. You can’t nearly eat some of these things. They’re selling fish, people don’t even know what they are.”

Dodi owner Zaheer Ahmed Dodi, 34, supports the idea of fishing quotas to make the industry more sustainable. He sells mostly “exotic” fish coming from sub-Saharan Africa and South America, which don’t have the same stringent fishing restrictions as in the European Union. He’s not optimistic about the future.

“There won’t be enough fish around. Like African countries, or if you go to Mexico, they don’t have the quota system there, so they just catch whatever they want to,” he told WikiTribune. “I’m struggling at the moment to get enough fish from Africa.”

]]>https://www.wikitribune.com/article/90363/feed/1Beijing counters Xinjiang criticism with spinhttps://www.wikitribune.com/article/90322/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=China&pk_campaign=RSS&pk_kwd=China&pk_source=RSS&pk_medium=RSS&pk_content=China
https://www.wikitribune.com/article/90322/?talkTue, 02 Oct 2018 10:25:03 +0000https://www.wikitribune.com/?p=90322The Chinese government is ramping up an international publicity campaign to counteract foreign criticism of its policies in the western province of Xinjiang, according to Reuters. These include mass detentions and surveillance of up to a million Muslim Uighurs and other minorities. (Read WikiTribune‘s Fact check: has China detained a million Uighurs?) The spin efforts include courting […]]]>

Examples of Chinese spin efforts

What is Beijing doing in Xinjiang?

…

What has the international community said?

Why is Xinjiang important to Beijing?

]]>https://www.wikitribune.com/article/90322/feed/0Australia to reopen WWII base to counter China influencehttps://www.wikitribune.com/article/89301/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=Asia&pk_campaign=RSS&pk_kwd=Asia&pk_source=RSS&pk_medium=RSS&pk_content=Asia
https://www.wikitribune.com/article/89301/?talkFri, 21 Sep 2018 11:16:07 +0000https://www.wikitribune.com/?p=89301As part of its efforts to stave off China’s growing influence in the region, Australia will reopen a large military base on Papua New Guinea. The island base was previously used by the United States during World War II , according to The Times. Add updates, information or new sections to this story. How big […]]]>

As part of its efforts to stave off China’s growing influence in the region, Australia will reopen a large military base on Papua New Guinea. The island base was previously used by the United States during World War II , according to The Times.

Add updates, information or new sections to this story.

How big is the base?

What role will the United States play?

Why is Australia anxious about China’s role in the region?

How has China increase its influence in the Asia-Pacific region?

]]>https://www.wikitribune.com/article/89301/feed/0Venezuelans starve while president feasts at famous restaurant in Turkeyhttps://www.wikitribune.com/article/88395/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=China&pk_campaign=RSS&pk_kwd=China&pk_source=RSS&pk_medium=RSS&pk_content=China
https://www.wikitribune.com/article/88395/?talkFri, 14 Sep 2018 09:52:51 +0000https://www.wikitribune.com/?p=88395Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, returning from an Asian tour, stopped off in Turkey to dine at a famous restaurant where he sampled steaks and smoked cigars from a personalized box. He confirmed the visit himself (CNN video in Spanish) to a state broadcaster September 17. (Reuters) Maduro and wife, Cilia Flores, visited one of chef Nusret Gökçe’s […]]]>

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, returning from an Asian tour, stopped off in Turkey to dine at a famous restaurant where he sampled steaks and smoked cigars from a personalized box. He confirmed the visit himself (CNN video in Spanish) to a state broadcaster September 17. (Reuters)

Maduro and wife, Cilia Flores, visited one of chef Nusret Gökçe’s Nusr-Et restaurants, known for their $100 (€85) rib-eye steak. Maduro was returning from an official trip to China in hopes of securing financing for his cash-strapped country.

In videos posted by Gökçe in social media, Maduro is seen eating steak while also holding a cigar and trying on a T-shirt depicting the restaurateur’s image. Gökce promotes himself as a character called “Salt Bae,” and is famous for how he prepares and seasons steaks.

The Associated Press reported that Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a fierce critic of Maduro, piled on criticism noting that Gökçe also has a restaurant in Miami — home to a large population of Venezuelan immigrants, most of them hostile to Maduro.

“I don’t know who this weirdo #Saltbae is, but the guy he is so proud to host is not the President of Venezuela. He is actually the overweight dictator of a nation where 30% of the people eat only once a day & infants are suffering from malnutrition,” Rubio said on Twitter.

How much money has China loaned the Venezuelan government in recent years?

]]>https://www.wikitribune.com/article/88395/feed/0UK-China relationship at risk over maritime incursion, warns Beijinghttps://www.wikitribune.com/article/87022/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=China&pk_campaign=RSS&pk_kwd=China&pk_source=RSS&pk_medium=RSS&pk_content=China
https://www.wikitribune.com/article/87022/?talkThu, 06 Sep 2018 10:06:25 +0000https://www.wikitribune.com/?p=87022China’s government said its future relationship with Britain could be at risk after an August incident when a Royal Navy warship sailed close to islands in the South China Sea that Beijing claims as its own. China called it a “provocation.” Add updates, information or new sections to this story. “Britain’s actions were wrong,” said Chinese […]]]>

China’s government said its future relationship with Britain could be at risk after an August incident when a Royal Navy warship sailed close to islands in the South China Sea that Beijing claims as its own. China called it a “provocation.”

“They clearly violated the consensus and spirit put forward by Britain’s leadership that they wished to build a golden era in ties with China. This certainly will unfavorably influence the further development of the China-Britain relationship.”

Hua added: “We hope that Britain can recognize the severity of the issue and take actions to rectify the situation”.

In an editorial, the official China Daily newspaper warned that Britain’s actions could “put a spanner in the works” in any future free trade deal between both countries after the UK exits the European Union, which is scheduled for March 29 2019.

What happened?

What was the Royal Navy ship doing there?

Why is the South China Sea important to China?

Have similar incidents happened before?

]]>https://www.wikitribune.com/article/87022/feed/0Business tycoon’s arrest ignites Chinese internethttps://www.wikitribune.com/article/86748/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=China&pk_campaign=RSS&pk_kwd=China&pk_source=RSS&pk_medium=RSS&pk_content=China
https://www.wikitribune.com/article/86748/?talkTue, 04 Sep 2018 21:01:10 +0000https://www.wikitribune.com/?post_type=stories&p=86748Richard Qiangdong Liu, CEO and founder of e-commerce giant JD.com, returned to China this week, just days after being arrested by Minneapolis police on suspicion of sexual assault (The Washington Post).

The Minneapolis Police Department said its investigation of the accusation is ongoing and that is hasn’t yet decided whether to file felony charges against the 45-year-old Chinese billionaire, who had been visiting the city on business.

JD.com is one of China’s largest online retailers and Liu, an outspoken advocate of replacing workers with total industrial automation, is one of China’s more dynamic tech billionaires, who have been called “the rock stars of China’s Gilded Age.” He and his wife, Zhang Zetian, popularly known as Sister Milk Tea, have long been national celebrities and tabloid fixtures.

Liu’s mug shot (Associated Press), taken by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, has gone viral and been endlessly dissected on Chinese social media.

“Chinese news outlets and social media users were consumed … by details of Liu’s arrest,” reported Singapore’s The Straits Times. “The intense reactions to Liu’s legal troubles reflect the public’s fascination with China’s self-made tech tycoons, who have become symbols of the country’s rise as a global power and its upward social mobility.”

Through the JD.com website and a spokesperson, Liu has called the accusation “unsubstantiated.” Minneapolis police said they have no legal right to prevent Liu from leaving the country.

]]>https://www.wikitribune.com/article/86748/feed/1President Xi says Chinese funds not to be used for African ‘vanity projects’https://www.wikitribune.com/article/86389/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=Africa&pk_campaign=RSS&pk_kwd=Africa&pk_source=RSS&pk_medium=RSS&pk_content=Africa
https://www.wikitribune.com/article/86389/?talkMon, 03 Sep 2018 10:17:33 +0000https://www.wikitribune.com/?p=86389Chinese President Xi Jinping told African leaders and business representatives at a business forum that Chinese funds are not meant for “vanity projects” in Africa, but are intended to remove developmental bottlenecks. Xi also said Chinese companies should respect local people and the environment. Add updates, information or new sections to this story. “China’s cooperation with […]]]>

Chinese President Xi Jinping told African leaders and business representatives at a business forum that Chinese funds are not meant for “vanity projects” in Africa, but are intended to remove developmental bottlenecks. Xi also said Chinese companies should respect local people and the environment.

Add updates, information or new sections to this story.

“China’s cooperation with Africa is clearly targeted at the major bottlenecks to development. Resources for our cooperation are not to be spent on any vanity projects but in places where they count the most,” he said.

Beijing defended itself against criticism, including that its projects are too resource-extraction oriented, don’t lack appropriate environmental safeguards, and don’t use enough local labor.

In July 2016, academics at the Oxford Review of Economic Policy published a study that found that “China’s infrastructure investment model is not one to follow for other countries but one to avoid.”

Xi delivered his comments at the High-level Dialogue between Chinese and African Leaders and Business and Industry Representatives at the sixth China-Africa Entrepreneur Conference in Beijing, China.

Please add any facts that will expand these headings.

Major Chinese infrastructure investments in Africa

Major Chinese infrastructure investments around the world

Research on economic and environmental impact of Chinese infrastructure investments in Africa

]]>https://www.wikitribune.com/article/86389/feed/0China bans Australian national news websitehttps://www.wikitribune.com/article/86374/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=Australian%20Broadcasting%20Corporation&pk_campaign=RSS&pk_kwd=Australian%20Broadcasting%20Corporation&pk_source=RSS&pk_medium=RSS&pk_content=Australian%20Broadcasting%20Corporation
https://www.wikitribune.com/article/86374/?talkMon, 03 Sep 2018 09:48:24 +0000https://www.wikitribune.com/?post_type=stories&p=86374Chinese authorities are reported to have blacked out another international news broadcaster. Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), says its website has not been available since August 22. In its own report on the action, the ABC said a Chinese official had told it that “the internet was fully open” but “state sovereignty rights” […]]]>

Chinese authorities are reported to have blacked out another international news broadcaster.

Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), says its website has not been available since August 22. In its own report on the action, the ABC said a Chinese official had told it that “the internet was fully open” but “state sovereignty rights” would be upheld.

A Chinese official was quoted as saying that China had the right to take “technical measures” in cases of posts featuring pornography, illegal gambling, or any other material which would endanger state security.

Google has been officially blocked since 2010, and The New York Times and Bloomberg news sites have not been permitted since 2012. WikiTribune first reported that Beijing re-blocked the BBC’s websites, as well as its mobile app for the first time, in late July 2018.

]]>https://www.wikitribune.com/article/86374/feed/0Google develops censorship-friendly search engine in Chinahttps://www.wikitribune.com/article/86303/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=China&pk_campaign=RSS&pk_kwd=China&pk_source=RSS&pk_medium=RSS&pk_content=China
https://www.wikitribune.com/article/86303/?talkSun, 02 Sep 2018 12:02:13 +0000https://www.wikitribune.com/?p=86303On August 1, The Intercept reported that Alphabet Inc, parent company of Google, is developing a search engine for the Chinese market. Leaked internal documents outline what is dubbed as the “Dragonfly” project, which would “blacklist sensitive queries” within the authoritarian country long-known for censorship. Google pulled out of China in 2010 a move seen as part […]]]>

On August 1, The Intercept reported that Alphabet Inc, parent company of Google, is developing a search engine for the Chinese market.

Leaked internal documents outline what is dubbed as the “Dragonfly” project, which would “blacklist sensitive queries” within the authoritarian country long-known for censorship.

Google pulled out of China in 2010 a move seen as part of their “don’t be evil” principle(Christian Science Monitor). It’s unclear why Google reversed its decision by developing project “Dragonfly.” Securities Daily, a Chinese-owned paper, denies Alphabet is re-entering the Chinese market. Though anonymous Google employees have told Reuters and The Intercept that Dragonfly is real and still in operation.

The China Communist Party, which has controlled the country for close to 70 years, prohibits mention of topics deemed harmful to the government. This includes certain current events, and of course what are known as the “Three T’s,” which are Tiananmen Square, Tibet and Taiwan (The Diplomat). These taboo issues respectively expose China’s quelling of dissent, religious suppression and ethnic Chinese people who’ve developed a democratic society.

Help WikiTribune report on this issue

Why is Alphabet Inc. entering the Chinese market?

Since Google left China in 2010, Apple Inc. has thrived in the country which leads the world in mobile app downloads. Apple sold $38.5 billion in apps in 2017, compared to Google’s $20 billion (Sensor Tower).

How could a Google search engine differentiate itself from existing Chinese competitors

Baidu accounts for 74 percent of online searches in China (Forbes). Though the company is dogged for unscrupulous ads and content, especially as it relates to health. The Chinese government began regulating search engine ads in 2016 after a student died following healthcare recommendations that he found on Baidu.

Why do tech companies operate in China, which is known for stealing intellectual property?